Theory
Clutter refers to the excess, the disordered and the distractions. They refer
to the worthless or valueless things in our room, home, surroundings and within
us, in our mind. The clutters refer to the stuff that we own which drains and
derails us and gives us those negative vibes.
Well let us try and find out the effects of clutter in our life.
1. Too much of stuff in the room and within our mind, makes it difficult for
the brain to process information, resulting in we losing our focus and falling
into the traps of distraction. Clutters compete with our attention and wears
down our ability to focus.
2. Clutters do overload our senses, leading to overwhelming and stress.
3. Clutters cut through our pocket as these stuffs are bought at a cost.
4. Clutters drain our time as we set out to search for things from the mess.
5. Messy environment increases procrastination, delays work and decreases
our productivity.
6. Clutters consume a lot of space at home, office and in our mind.
7. Clutters derail our focus, resulting in our energy get expended in small and
trivial matters.
8. Clutters invite your unnecessary care and attention and you are left with no
time for enjoying your relationships and friends and family.
9. Clutters take away peace, progress and prosperity as we lose out on our
mindfulness, focus and quality time.
10. Clutters reflect our disorganized nature and pulls down our will to plan and
prepare.
Hence, let us remove these clutters or de clutter and break away to a world of
time, space, energy and freedom. For that let us come up with the 5S
methodology.5S stands for the 5 steps of this methodology: Sort, Set in Order,
Shine, Standardize and Sustain. These steps involve going through everything in a
space, deciding what’s necessary and what isn’t, putting things in order, cleaning,
and setting up procedures for performing these tasks on a regular basis.
Sort- Find out what is needed and what is not needed.
Set in order- Find a place for everything and ensure that everything is in its place.
Shine- Keeping it clean and tidy through regular cleaning.
Standardise- Setting a new normal or new rules in practice with respect to sorting,
setting and regular cleaning.
Sustain- Continuing and abiding by the new standards set up.
Story
Ramesh was the most creative employee at a Tech Solutions company and also
the most chaotic. His desk looked like a mini junkyard of modern civilization —
coffee cups, sticky notes, half-eaten biscuits, tangled wires, pens that didn’t write,
and papers that seemed to multiply overnight.
When his boss, Mr. David, walked by, he’d shake his head and joke, “Ramesh, if
creativity had a smell, your desk would be its museum!”Ramesh would grin
proudly and say, “Sir, genius thrives in disorder.”
But one Monday morning, disaster struck. The company’s biggest client called for
an urgent meeting. They needed a report that Ramesh had worked on last week,
a report he was sure was “somewhere on his desk.”As everyone waited, Ramesh
dived into his pile of papers like a miner looking for gold. Files flew, paperclips
scattered, and panic replaced confidence. Thirty minutes later, he found the
report ,with a coffee ring right in the centre of the page.
The meeting didn’t go well. His boss didn’t shout, but his silence said enough.
That evening, Ramesh sat alone at his desk, staring at the mess. For the first time,
it didn’t look like “creative chaos.” It looked like confusion made visible.
He realized something simple, yet profound, the clutter on his desk wasn’t just
physical. It was a reflection of the clutter in his mind: unfinished tasks, unspoken
thoughts, and unresolved worries.
He rolled up his sleeves and began cleaning. One by one, he cleared papers, threw
away old notes, organized files, and wiped his desk clean. What began as a
reluctant task soon turned into therapy. With every item he discarded, he felt
lighter, as if he was reclaiming space not just on his table, but in his head.
When he was done, he sat back, staring at the clean, open surface. For the first
time in years, his mind felt silent. The next morning, something magical
happened. He arrived early, focused, and calm. He completed his tasks faster,
thought clearer, and even smiled more. When his boss saw his desk, he stopped
mid-step and said, “Ramesh, I almost didn’t recognize you. You’ve discovered the
secret of productivity, clear space, and clear mind.”Ramesh laughed. “Yes, sir, I
realized I was trying to build skyscrapers on a pile of rubble.”
Weeks later, he became one of the most efficient employees in the company, not
because he changed jobs or tools, but because he changed his relationship with
clutter. When his friends asked how he did it, he smiled and said, “I didn’t just
clean my desk, I cleaned my life. Everything I don’t need is now a blessing I don’t
have to carry.”
Learning
Clutter is not just on our desks, it’s in our thoughts, our routines, and sometimes
even in our relationships. We often mistake “busyness” for productivity, and
“noise” for progress. But clarity doesn’t come from doing more; it comes from
removing what doesn’t matter. When we de clutter our surroundings, our minds
begin to breathe again. When we de clutter our minds, our purpose begins to
shine again. A clean space doesn’t just look good; it feels good, because it reminds
us of what’s essential, what’s beautiful, and what truly belongs.
Activity
Brief about your mission ‘’ De clutter- slowly and steadily”
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Quote
“The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more
you are free“.~ Mother Teresa
Takeaways
1. Clutter refers to the excess, the disordered and the distractions. They refer
to the worthless or valueless things in our room, home, surroundings and
within us, in our mind.
2. Implement the 5S methodology for de cluttering and organising.